Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre defends HMT land action, says forest land cannot be diverted
Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre is defending the state government's move to reclaim HMT land in Bengaluru, classifying it as protected forest land. The issue has sparked a political dispute with Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who opposes the government's actions regarding the land's status.
Why it matters
The conflict illustrates the tension between urban development, environmental conservation, and political jurisdiction over land use.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre on Saturday (July 11, 2026) strongly defended the Karnataka government’s move to reclaim the HMT land in north Bengaluru , asserting that the land is legally classified as forest and would remain so unless it had been validly diverted for non-forest purposes.
The article provides perspectives from both political figures involved in the land dispute.
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